Congratulations are in order!?!?  I made super-human progress today!! I emptied many boxes and will advertise them “free” to  JAARS residents (as great storage). Three other “Banker’s Boxes” (full of Veggie Tales, etc.) will go to our local MK Station (Missionary Kids Day Care).  I’ve loaded several boxes of things into the KIA for delivery (next week) to a local church for a youth fund-raiser yard sale.  Right now, I have three separate “piles” of donations: Second Chance Boutique, Church youth, & JAARS day care.   ~~  Much, much more awaits my attention!! ~~ Oh! I almost forgot to mention all the shredding I did.

Postscript, Monday 6/18/12, 10:00 PM: Change of plans.  The Veggie Tales and assorted other fruit and veggies will go to Second Chance Boutique.  Why??  Because I visited their “other” store in Monroe, North Carolina, on Saturday and was favorably impressed with their store.  Obviously, I’m impressed with their ministry to battered women, too.

I spent the morning in the garden watering plants and filling bird feeders.  My tomatoes are growing exceptionally well.  “Necessity being the mother of invention,” I added a rack for CDs as a trellis for the trailing tomato plant.  ~~ I checked the Bluebird house and cannot determine if there are any babies. Two days ago I didn’t open the house because a Bluebird egg was in the entry (how strange). This morning the egg is still in the entry and no eggs deeper in the nest. Zoom in on the third picture and see if you can see baby birds. ~~ A squirrel on the bird feeder again.

I took another peek at 7:13 PM and removed the egg that had been pushed out of the nest. I still could not see any movement in the nest. Earlier today, I saw the mama Bluebird taking food, in her beak, into the bird house.

Question #1: Who is the extremely faithful follower in–or near–Rochester, New York, that checks my blog almost every day??  Please add a comment or e-mail me at LorraineEEdwards@gmail.com .

Question #2: Who is the faithful follower in–or near–Shelby, North Carolina, that frequently checks my blog??  Please add a comment or e-mail me at LorraineEEdwards@gmail.com .

Sincere THANKS !!

Hello!!  I’m still here!!  I’m really, really, really involved with “downsizing.”  It’s like I have a tiger by the tail and can’t let go. (One-track-mind.)  Right now (Thursday morning) I’m working on two donations. More clothing for Second Chance Boutique and lots of miscellaneous for a church youth group fund-raiser yard sale.

It’s Flag Day. I’m wearing white pants with a “flag” shirt to work this afternoon and red, white, and blue earrings. Other patriotic accessories, too. ~~ God bless American!!

Sadly (or only sad for me?) most of my “costumes” went to the thrift shop: St. Patrick’s Day green velvet pants and green shirt (and green beads long necklace); Valentine’s Day red dress and heart accessories; April “Foolish” outfit with Joker hat; etc., etc.  I still have my Mrs. Santa Claus red dress with white fur (detachable) collar and red hat with white fur trim.  Remove the white trim and I could wear for Valentine’s Day.  Square dance skirts and blouses, leather fringed vest, red cowgirl boots, and western bandanas will hopefully find a place in someone else’s closet.  I even had a collection of clothing items I thought appropriate for a cruise (but I never sign up for a cruise).

It was after 3 o’clock before I got to my backyard garden. Two days since I watered and my Topsy-Turvy upside-down tomato plants had wilted. It hasn’t been hot but there is probably a big root system to feed the large plants (and the planters aren’t extremely large).  I gave them lots of water and liquid fertilizer.  ~~  I checked the Bluebird house and saw a little red object that moved. My first Bluebird baby!!  Thrill, thrill!!

I worked all day yesterday at the JAARS open house (JAARS Day).  I went to bed at 8 o’clock because I was tired!!  Today I’ve been documenting clothing items, hats, shoes, purses and jewelry going to the Second Chance Boutique.  (A total of 120 items.)  This was my Red Hat Society wardrobe when I was active in a Chapter in Southern California (2003-2004).  ~~  Why am I documenting each item??  Because North Carolina really zaps me for taxes each year.  I’m OK with the standard deduction for Federal Income Taxes but North Carolina isn’t as generous.  I document my donations in a software program called It’s Deductible (and you can access it on the Internet).  ~~  I have a one-track-mind!!  It’s almost 5 o’clock and I haven’t had breakfast or lunch.  I think I’ll fix some supper!!

Six Gluten-free Grains to Add to Your Diet.  Interesting reading.  Personally, I’ve distanced myself from potatoes, bread, etc.  I’ve been delighted with a slight drop in weight and two less inches of belly fat!!  (But I haven’t lost enough “girth” to fit into yesteryear’s wardrobe.)

I think I have an aspiring candidate for The Flying Wallendas.  I saw one of my fine furry friends leap over six feet from the large branch (left) to the bird feeder.

Please read (1) Never-ending battle with the squirrels!!, (2) What’s the solution??, (3)  Slippery Solution and (4) Not a good day.

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Postscript, Sun. June 10th: Subsequent to my above reference to the Wallendas, I heard on the TV news that a member of the famous family will walk across Niagara Falls one day soon.  ~~  Newsflash, Thursday June 14th: The walk will be Friday June 15th and will be carried live on ABC-TV.

It has been a while since I stood on my soapbox and preached nutrition.  I just read Ten Harmful Food Additives to Avoid and want to share it with you.  Personally, I know… and avoid… but the pictures make this presentation really noteworthy.

Earlier today, I checked the Bluebird house and found there are five eggs.

I’ve spent the morning going through one closet (only one closet) deciding on things to give to a local thrift shop that supports a local battered-woman shelter.  I tried on each item of clothing and was shocked to see (in the mirror) that most don’t fit!!  Yes, I know I’ve gained weight but this is ridiculous!!  I can’t even get into pants I was wearing this time two years ago!!  (That’s the “bad news.”)  It was a “no brainer” decision that I would give away lovely jackets previously worn when I worked “in the public eye” several years ago (at Hallelujah Acres).  I also went through the dresser drawers and have a total of two dozen dress-length slips, half-slips, and camisoles to donate.  (Does anyone wear slips or camisoles any more??)  Furthermore, there must be two dozen pair of brand-new, still in the package, panty-hose, knee-length hose and trouser socks.  Yippes!!  Why do I have so many??  They may be so old that they have lost their elasticity!!  But I’ll let the manager of the shop (called Second Chance Boutique) make the decision about their usefulness.  (I can’t remember the last time I wore a pair of panty hose.)  ~~  So that explains my morning.  ~~  The weather is much cooler, and no humidity, so it would be a nice day (a nice weekend) to be sightseeing (or camping).  ~~  BUT, I have a “one track mind” and I’m focusing on “downsizing.”  Two weeks ago I attended a seminar regarding “downsizing” and the specific topic was “closets.”  This was my first opportunity to follow-up.  ~~  I’m NOT enjoying the process but it must be done!!  (And no little elves to help me.) ~~ Next weekend, another yard sale at my site in the RV Park. Lots to do this week to prepare!!

Postscript, 6/03/2012, 8:00PM: Ditto yesterday. I spent hours trying on clothes (from another closet). I’ve been able to create several new outfits for myself. (That’s good news!!)  There are clothing items I can’t imagine wearing (although they fit) so they have been packaged for delivery to Second Chance.  I documented the items for Income Tax purposes and there is a total of 85 .  ~~  In the near future, I will go through a large box with Red Hat Society outfits (and donate…).  Furthermore, there is a large heavy-duty plastic storage bag full of costumes crying for attention.

Postscript, 6/05/2012, 2:00 PM: This morning, I delivered the selected items to Second Chance Boutique.  They seemed thrilled with what they saw!!  I promised more… as I have time to process through….  They will even take winter clothing because they have a place to store them.  (Maybe they ascribe to that old addage: “A bird (coat) in hand is worth two in the bush” (two not in their possession.)